Buffer Ohio Award Winner- Dr. & Mrs. Buck

News Release
For Release: Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Columbus, Ohio

Dr. Donald and Helen Buck of London were recognized today as one of ten statewide Buffer Ohio Award Winners. The award was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Buffer Ohio is a statewide awards program, which recognizes exceptional landowners who have done an outstanding job of applying and maintaining conservation buffer practices to the Ohio landscape. It is co-sponsored by Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Corn Growers, Pheasants Forever, ODNR Division of Wildlife, ODNR Division of Forestry, ODNR Division of Soil and Water Conservation, Ohio Wetlands Foundation, Nature Conservancy, Ohio Soybean Association, National Conservation Buffer Council, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Lake Erie Buffer Team.

Conservation buffer practices include grass filter strips, riparian tree plantings, sod waterways, wetland restorations, and windbreaks. They are a fundamental part of the conservation effort to protect and enhance Ohio’s precious soil, water, plant, and animal resources. Buffer practices provide improved agricultural production, erosion control, water quality, and wildlife habitat benefits. Buffer areas trap sediment, nutrients, pesticides, provide food and cover for wildlife, and increase plant and animal diversity.

Dr. Donald and Helen Buck were recognized for their work in installing conservation buffer practices. In 2001 the Bucks purchased a farm with severe erosion problems. To solve the problem two grassed waterways nearly 8,000 feet in length were installed, along with several acres of field borders. The waterways installed represented the largest in sod waterway acreage installed in Madison County in 2001. Donald and Helen are planning to install an animal waste stack pad on their old farm using Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) money, and they have already planted ash and oak trees in fencerows and austere willows and pines for a windbreak. They have experimented with Bermuda, alfalfa, sudax, gamma, pearl millet, alice clover, and new types of orchard grasses and perennial rye grass in their pastures. Donald and Helen have opened their farm for a pond management seminar for teachers, SWCD/NRCS personnel, and other resource agencies as well as hosting a grazing tour with the Madison SWCD. The Bucks are always willing to help neighbors, to show off the conservation practices they have installed, and to promote the programs offered by the SWCD. Donald and Helen have done an outstanding job of applying and maintaining the conservation buffer practices and helping others to install and maintain their own conservation practices.

As part of the award Dr. and Mrs. Buck received a cash award, recognition plaque, and Buffer Ohio Jacket. Award recipients were selected based on a review of their conservation buffer accomplishments. Judging was done by a committee of the Buffer Ohio Partner Organizations.

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